Jun 26, 2017

Relax and enjoy Lake Michigan and seagull flybys in Glen Loyd's music video.Say “seagull” and most people know you’re talking about a gregarious, white-and-gray waterbird common around harbors and beaches and highly tolerant of humans. Of the 19 North American gull species, the Ring-billed Gull is the one you’re most likely to see around the Great Lakes. It can be found along the ocean coasts, but many of these “seagulls” never see anything except fresh water all their lives. Although referred to as seagulls, a common misnomer, these are properly called gulls. ----University of WI Sea Grant

Consumerist
My thanks to Consumer Reports and its Consumerist blog for all of the stories and advice. Anytime you are making a major purchase, check it out with Consumer Reports at your local library. A subscription is a good investment, too.
Don't every buy a new or used car without Consumer Reports! They rate new and used cars in their April issue and have advice on how much you should pay. Years ago when I was a TV consumer reporter in Green Bay and passing on advice from Consumer Reports, car dealers got together and withdrew a million dollars in TV advertising!

Jun 11, 2017

Glen Loyd has dramatic video of a peregrine falcon mother saving her baby falling from Great Spirit Bluff on the Mississippi River near La Crosse, WI
The baby is believed to be fleeing black flies which suffocated two other siblings by clogging their airways.
Another sibling fell or jumped out of the nest but was recovered.
A Raptor Resource climbing team cleans out the out the nest, applies insecticide and returns the two surviving siblings

Glen Loyd likes to show and tell about the Rock River in Janesville. It is not just a Mississippi tributary, he says. It has an interesting history of its own. It was Chief Black Hawk's River. It was Ronald Reagan's River. And Abe Lincoln knew the river as did the French Voyageurs. And today the Rock River helps generate electricity to light up Chicago. In addition to all of this river bragging, Glen shows how the River can make you happy, too.

May 30, 2017

In the past few years, black flies--also called buffalo gnats--have been blamed for the death of eaglets in Wisconsin and other states. The publication Two Rivers Outdoors explains : "... in late spring and early summer... they swarm and bite birds and mammals.... Male black flies do not bite, but females of most species must feed on blood to produce eggs....

May 15, 2017

Glen Loyd has made a musical of the Wisconsin peregrines with a video produced by the We Energies power company. We Energies has been assisting with peregrine falcon recovery since the early 1990s to help reestablish the raptor since its decimation during the 1960s. More than 230 peregrines have hatched in nest boxes high on We Energies towers.

Before using a car repair shop, check for complaints with state consumer proection agencies and the Better Business Bureau. In Wisconsin call the WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Proection 800 422 7128.

May 8, 2017

Glen Loyd's story is about the entertaining and beloved Decorah, Iowa eagles and their babies from two nests (one has three eaglets and the North nest has two). You can also see the nests anytime day or night at the Raptor Resource Project's Live EagleCams.

May 1, 2017

"Poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master," said Leonardo da Vinci. I'm sure that is the goal of art teachers in our schools. But even when they don't surpass their teachers, art is fun for most kids and what they create is cherished by parents and grand parents.

Apr 24, 2017

"The Decorah Eagles begin courtship in October, productive mating in late January or early February, and egg-laying in mid to late February. Hatching usually begins in late March to early April, and the eaglets fledge in mid-to-late June. While young usually disperse between August and October, the adults remain on territory year round," Raptor Resource Project

Apr 10, 2017

This is a sad video about a Decorah eaglet death and bullying of another. Parents might want to screen it before showing to children. The Raptor Resource Project says, "We are sorry to announce the death of youngest North eaglet DN6. We believe that DN6 died of hypothermia...weakening it to the point it could no longer feed."

Wikipedia says Norman Rockwell (1894 - 1978) was a painter and illustrator whose works enjoy a broad popular appeal for the reflection of American culture. That's why the Parker family of Janesville, WI hired him to help sell Parker Pens in the late 1950's
Three of the Parker illustrations are art treasures now and were sold recently by the Parkers for more than $400,000. You will seen these illustrations in Glen Loyd's video. The Parkers have helped Janesville and Wisconsin causes with donations and leadership.

In my music video this week you will see two examples of early American furniture...each worth a half million dollars. The entire collection, owned by heirs of Janesville's Parker Pen, is worth multi-millions.

Jan 9, 2017

Wikipedia says magpies are considered one of the most intelligent animals in the world, and the only non-mammal species able to recognize itself in a mirror. They often pull the tail feathers of other birds and steal their lunch. They also like to pull this on dogs and cats for fun.

Glen Loyd has a video about his parents' home in Hyattsville, MD and their collections. It was the family gathering place for Glen, his sister and three brothers and all the children and great grand children. Sometimes the only place to find a seat was on the front porch.